The gradual weakening of the bridge's steel supports prompted engineers to recommend immediate reinforcement before the next inspection cycle.
桥梁钢支撑的逐渐减弱促使工程师建议在下一次检查周期前立即加固。
Which choice best defines “weakening”?
C — The process of becoming less strong. “weakening” means the process of becoming less strong.
Which word means “the process of becoming less strong”?
B — weakening. “weakening” means the process of becoming less strong.
weakening — the process of becoming less strong. In Chinese: 减弱，削弱.
weakening is pronounced /ˈwiːkənɪŋ/.
The gradual weakening of the bridge's steel supports prompted engineers to recommend immediate reinforcement before the next inspection cycle. (桥梁钢支撑的逐渐减弱促使工程师建议在下一次检查周期前立即加固。)
decline, diminution, erosion — all close in meaning to weakening (the process of becoming less strong).
strengthening, reinforcement — each the opposite of weakening (the process of becoming less strong).
Yes. weakening is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.